MONTREAL – After months of protests over cuts to education, the Quebec English School Board Association (QESBA) has been calling for Premier Philippe Couillard to get rid of Education Minister François Blais.
Thursday’s cabinet shuffle at the National Assembly did just that, replacing him with former Municipal Affairs Minister, Pierre Moreau.
During Blais’ 11 months as Education Minister, he never once met with the English school boards.
READ MORE: Not so fast, QESBA tells new education minister
Leaders of the English boards welcome the arrival of Moreau in the portfolio.
“Mr. Moreau has a history of collaborating with his communities, of working with the various organizations that he has to deal with,” Marcus Tabachnick told Global Montreal Senior Anchor Jamie Orchard.
The Executive Director of QESBA was hopeful that it will open a new era of discussion and cooperation.
“We have every intention of working as closely with him as possible,” he said
WATCH BELOW: QESBA vs Blais
Tabachnick said he’s confident the new minister will be able to get more community involvement in the education system.
“I think he should sit down with parent groups, with the school board associations, with administrators and teachers and get the full picture,” he insisted.
Tabachnick argued that the goals Couillard laid out – more parent involvement and more transparency – can be achieved through the current education act.
It’s a goal he’s sure the new Education Minister will be able to do.
QESBA hopes that entering with a positive attitude and a clear definition of the government’s goals will truly improve the education system.
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